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| A classical Greek statue of Pythagoras |
Although the Greeks were the first Europeans to consider questions of astronomy, mathematics, physics and biology, it was not until the time of Aristotle that they recognised science as a discipline distinct from philosophy. Nevertheless, they made some astounding discoveries and their names live on.
Pythagoras (570-500BC) not only pioneered the study of mathematics in the western world, but was also a reputed miracle worker. His famous theorem for calculating the length of the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is well known. Less well known is his mystical theory of the transmigration of souls.
Hippocrates (460-390BC), a physician and medical writer, is the father of modern medicine. He established a renowned school of medicine on the island of Cos, where students learned to diagnose illness through observation rather than theory. It was from this school that the first version of the Hippocratic oath derived.
Archimedes (287-211BC) is most famous for running through the streets shouting “Eureka!” when he discovered the principle of specific gravity while sitting in his bath. But we can also credit him with the invention of the Archimedean screw – a device still used to draw water upwards – and many important theories of geometry.
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